Shaft tightener insert



June 16, 1953 w, V DYKE SHAFT TIGHTENER INSERT Filed Jan. 9, 1951 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 16, 1953 2,642,321 SHAFT TIGHTENER. INSERT I William Van Dyke, Averill Park, 7N. Y. Application January 9, 1951, s mi No. 205,122 I This invention relates'to anew and improved means for compensating for shaft wearer b ing wear occurring from prolonged rotation of a shaft journalled in bearings which are mounted in a housing or are formed by the housing.

' In particular, this invention provides 'a'shaft tightener insert to be positioned in a hole extending radially from'the shaft axis in a shaft housing. One end of the insert bearsaga-inst the shaft and maybe held against the same by tightening means for procuring optimum drag on a shaft rotating in the bearings of a housing and thereby overcome objectionable wobbleof the shaft caused by wear'of either the 'shafting or bearings. 1

It is a principal object; therefore, of this in- 2 Claims. (01. 308- 65) radial hole I4 is provided in the distributorshaft housing 12 for the purpose of receiving by means of the internal tapped portion I a grease or oil cap l6. I

As shown in the drawings, the distributor shaft housing opening I? acts as a bearing for the vention to provide a shaft tightener device which will compensate for the wear of a shaft or will compensate for wear of the housing bearings due to continued rotation. of the shaft in the same. i

It is a further object of thisinvention to provide such a shaft tightener device which will al so permit the flow of lubricating oil or grease through the tightener device at the same time as it functions for compensating for wear and thereby reduce frictional drag occurring due'to the position of the insert device.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a shaft tightener device which may be inserted in the usual radial hole which is internally tapped at the outer end thereof for receiving a grease or oil cap fitting and which is found in many shaft housings.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of a distributor housing incorporating the shaft tightener insert of this invention in the lubrication opening which receives the usual grease or oil cap; 4

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;. I

- Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the shaft tightener insert of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an end view of the enlarged sec tional view of Figure 3.

Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown for the purposes of illustration only, a distributor housing indicated generally at It) having the usual distributor shaft ll journaled in the shaft distributor housing I2 whichforms an integral part of the distributorhousing ID. I

At the-end of the distributor shaft u projecting into the distributor housing is affixed the usual distributor rotor 13. Generally, as shown, a

grease cup 16 to the distributor shaft: l l I end of this tubular shaft; tightener insert [8' there is provided an arcuate cylindrical bearing surface l9 having aradius substantially equal to distributor shaft I I. If desired; however, an additional bearing surface may be placed in the opening and'as'usual, in order to accommodate the new of grease or oilthrough the radialhole M from the cap Hi, there would be provided; an

opening through this bearing surface. s I

Upon prolonged usage of thedistributor, wear frequently will occur either to, reducethe diameter of the distributor shaft I l or to enlarge the distributor shaft housing bearingv opening :2 to the extent that aiwobble motion occurs upon rotation of the distributor shaft whichthereby prevents 'the correct spark gap from functioning to provide timed distributor action. Upon the event of such wear, it is normal practice either to provide a new distributor shaft of increased di ameter to "compensate for an enlargement of the distributor shaft housing opening l2 or to compensate for the reduced diameter of the original distributor shaft II. By utilizing the shaft tightener insert of this invention such costly replacement is no longer necessary. Further, the particular shaft tightener insert of this invention may be conveniently positioned in the radial hole M in a position to compensate for the wear of the shaft and at the same time permit the s As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the shaft tights ener insert of this invention comprises a longitudinal tubular member IT. The opening it therein serves as indicated above to permit the passage of-greaseor oil therethrough from "the that of the distributor shaft H and an axis perpendicular'and coplanar'with the longitudinal axis of the tubular member 11.

Upon wear of either of the shaft ll or the housing bearing l2, it is merely necessary to re-v move the grease or oil cap I 6 by unscrewing it from theinternally tapped thread It, insertthe shaft tightener device'into the opening in a position' such that the arcuate cylindrical bearing surface l9 rests against the distributor shaft H, and then replace the grease or oil cap I It by At one "screwing it into the internally tapped thread I5 to an extent sufficient to obtain an optimum drag on the distributor shaft I l in the distributor shaft housing bearing opening 12. Optimum drag may be determined by manually rotating the distributor shaft H while adjusting the position of the grease or oil cap Hi. If sufficient drag is not imposed, a wobble action will still remain in the shaft as it rotates. If too much drag is imposed the friction developed between the insert, the shaft, and the housing bearing will prevent the required freedom on rotation of the distributor shaft ll.

described supra to be of particular use for compensating for the Wear of a distributor shaft in a distributor housing, it is apparent that such a shaft tightener insert may be used with any shaft mounted in a housing wherein the housing serves as hearing means or supports bearing means for entire length by the housing. The shaft may be supported at its ends in the housing and the insert may be placed intermediate the ends of the shaft by its insertion through any convenient opening found in the housing or an opening supplied by drilling the housing and tapping. Furthermore, in such a housing a shaft tightener of this invention may be applied at one or each of the bear ing points by making use of radial openings found there for grease or oil cups, or other purposes, or by drilling and tapping. Normally, however, a grease or oil cup such as I6 will be found in most housings and permits the ready installation of the shaft tightener insert of this invention without necessary drilling or removal of other parts.

This particular device is, of course, of importance where it is necessary for a shafting to be lubricated and it is, therefore, desirable if it is necessary to bore a housing for the purpose of receiving such an insert, to tap the outer end of the opening for the purpose of receiving an oil or 4 grease cap and thereby permit lubrication of the shafting at the point of contact of the shaft tightener insert and the shaft.

The drawings, therefore, submitted herewith are for the purpose of illustration only and are not limiting to the scope of the claims wherein:

I claim:

1. In combination a housing, a shaft rotatably supported therein, an opening through said housing communicating from the exterior with said shaft, a shaft tightener-insert within said opening, said insert comprising a tubular member hav- 7 5.. ing an arcuate cylindrical bearing surface at one Although the shaft tightener insert has been end thereof adjacent said shaft, and a lubrication cup having its discharge end adjustably received at the end of the opening communicating with comprising a tubular member having an arcuate,..

cylindrical bearing surface at one end thereof adjacent said shaft, and a lubrication cup having its discharge end adjustably received in the opening through said bearing support means for securing an optimum drag between said shaft and said bearing.

WILLIAM VAN DYKE.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,315,735 Michell Sept. 9, 1919 1,697,046 Chapman Jan. 1, 1929 2,003,316 Schein June 4, 1935 2,224,652 Kingsbury Dec; 10, 1940 2,354,870 Messinger Aug. 1, 1944 2,450,734 Majeski Oct. 5, 1948 

